Wristwatches such as Rolex Submariner are sophisticated, beautiful, and above all, accessories that say a lot about the owner. Each has its style: analog or digital, the material of the bracelet, the type of dial, the number of hands, and so on. In the age of smartphones, the analog clock seems to be an anachronism, something of men from other times, and it has great charm precisely because of that. But there is one thing that watches wrist are technologically very, very ahead of the cell: water resistance. But exactly how tough? Find out what sets diving watches apart from others.
“But My Watch Is Water-Resistant”
The term “water-resistant” or “water-resistant” means little if the watch manufacturer does not provide a number in atm or meters indicating resistance to water pressure. Without specifying depth, “waterproof” means “resistant to accidental and occasional ‘wet.'” If left in running water for some time, however, they can soon undergo infiltration.
Before we explain what atm is, a few more considerations about watches and water. The resistance of watches is measured under static conditions, with the object submerged in still water. The speed of the water can exceed this resistance – for example, if the watch is hit by the jet of water from a garden hose, is on your arm when you swim at speed, or even if a stronger shower falls on it – and this is why a watch with nominally high resistance can suffer damage in theoretically “shallow” water.
Thermal shock can also contribute to water that shouldn’t get into your watch: for example, if you leave a very cold place and soak your watch in the hot tub. You can’t be too careful with your watch, especially those with lower resistance.
Understanding The Atm
Look between the numbers 4 and 7 on your watch face or the back of your watch for words and numbers like W/R, 3ATM, 150, etc. This is your watch’s resistance in atm (measurement of pressure), meters, or feet of water.
10 meters or 1 atm: protected from accidental exposure to water.
30 meters or 3 atm: withstands brief immersions, such as being caught off guard by rain. But you can’t swim or shower with a watch.
50 meters or 5 atm: can be used for shallow swimming or washing dishes, but not yet for bathing or diving.
100 meters or 10 atm: you can use it for swimming or snorkeling (shallow diving), but not scuba diving.
150 meters or 15 atm: from here, we have a diving watch! The more sophisticated ones, however, score 20 atm or more.
Why Wear A Diving Watch
As we know, watches are not just for looking at the time, but they are an accessory that says a lot about the owner. The diving ones are big, bold, and simple to look at – a men’s watch par excellence, alongside the pocket watch. They are designed to keep track of time in adverse and dangerous situations, such as the ocean, where man only arrives with equipment – air cylinder, flipper, mask, etc. And as if that wasn’t enough, they are waterproof.
